ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Partnership - Collaborative Studentship 2023: Optimising Sustainable Diets to Support Healthy Brain Aging

Funding providers: ESRC Wales DTP

Subject areas: Data science

Project description: 

The UK has set the ambitious target of reaching ‘net zero’ by 2050. As food production contributes around 37% of global greenhouse gas (GHG), shifting to sustainable diets is crucial to achieving this goal. Therefore in 2019, the EAT-Lancet Commission defined a universal plant-based reference diet to promote human and environmental health. However, in doing so the potential unintended consequences for brain health were not considered. This is troubling given that the high metabolic rate of the brain makes it particularly sensitive to nutritional deficiencies.  Indeed, Swansea University pilot data indicated that adherence to the EAT-Lancet recommendation to severely limit animal products was associated with a greater risk of being deficient in a range of nutrients essential for brain functioning (including protein, selenium, zinc, iron, and folate) and a more depressed mood (Young, 2022).

Therefore, this project aims to use existing epidemiological data (e.g., Whitehall II study, UK BIOBANK) to:

• identify clusters of the population at risk of adopting unhealthy dietary patterns as we transition to more sustainable eating patterns. By determine risk factors for belonging to these groups (e.g., multiple deprivation, ethnicity) this work will help inform potential mitigation strategies (e.g., targeted public health messaging).
• use advances in mathematical optimisation (e.g., non-linear programming) to assess the compatibility of sustainable (e.g., EAT-Lancet) and brain healthy diets (e.g., MIND), and identify any potential limiting nutrients (i.e., those nutrients for which it is not feasible to reach nutritional adequacy within environmental constraints), considering both sociocultural acceptability and cost. In doing so this work will provide a basis for public health recommendations and/or the development of fortified food products.

To facilitate maximum international impact, this work is being conducted in collaboration with the food industry partners that comprise the Cognitive Health Committee at the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS), Washington DC. The successful candidate will have opportunity for a work placement at IAFNS which offers a unique opportunity to understand how multidisciplinary science is utilized across industry, government, and academia to benefit public health. 

Eligibility

Candidates should have an excellent background in the social sciences, holding a first- or strong upper-second-class degree, or equivalent recognised by Swansea University.

English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 6.5 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent. 

This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality.

Funding

The studentship provides the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend. There will be additional funds available for research expenses.

Studentship awards commence in October 2023 and will cover your tuition fees as well as a maintenance grant (currently £17,668 per annum for 2022/23 for full-time students, updated each year) and include access to an additional Research Training Support Grant (RTSG). 

There are other opportunities and benefits available to studentship holders, including an overseas fieldwork allowance (if applicable), internship opportunities, overseas institutional visits and other small grants.

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